Device for holding articles in suspension



June 5, 1945. J. v. FUGAZZI DEVICE FOR HOLDING ARTICLES IN SUSPENSION INVENTOR. JOHN l/ FUGAZZL Filed Sept. 27, 1945 A 770? NE Patented June 5, 1945 DE-VIGE FOB- HOLDING ARTICLES IN SUSPENSION John V. Fugazzi, New York, N. Y. Application September 27, 1943, Serial No. 503,895

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for holding in suspension articles such as towels, napkins, hats or similar articles, and has more particular reference to the type wherein a ball is employed in cooperation with a grooved body to releasably hold the article against a substantially fiat surface,

It is an object of the present invention to provide a very simple, efiicient, economical and practical holder of the aforesaid type which is manipulatable with ease, aesthetic in appearance and which cannot get out of order because of its simplicity in construction. v

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved holder of the aforesaid type which is cooperation with a conventional fiat object, such as a wall, door, etc., is adapted to detachably support an article in suspended position and in which the gripping quality thereof is improved relative to devices of like nature heretofore made.

It is yet another object of the present invention to make the body of the holder of the aforesaid type, out of plastic composition. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide improved attaching means for said device.

These and other objects and advantageous features are accomplished by the novel and practical construction hereinafter disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting an essential part of the disclosure, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a holder device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the device in an inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of Figure 1-;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 2., but showing the device in an operative position;

Fig. 5 is a section taken through a device embodying the invention with modified attaching means; and

Figs. 6 and 7, are views of a screw and sleeve utilizable in the construction of the invention shown in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is disclosed a preferably molded body l5 made of any suitable material, such as, wood pulp, papier mach, plaster, clay, plastic composition, rubber, etc. Body l5 has a laterally projecting fiat-faced upper portion l4 adapted to abut against a fiat surface, such as, a plate, door or wall 16, and by virtue of which the portions 23 of the body is spaced from the abutment l6 providing openings or spaces therebetween. Body 'cature or configuration.

l5 may be secured to abutment l6 by means-of screws ll projecting through the openings l8 formed in the portion M of body I5.

Body [5 is provided with a recess I9 which preferably extends within portion l4. Recess I9 is formed by the upper substantially horizontally wall 2|, the lateral converging walls l3 and the slanting preferably corrugated front or forward wall 22 having an inwardly directed preferably curved lower portion 22a terminating flush with the extremities of the fiat faces 24 of the portions 23 of body I5.

A ball 20 is adapted to operate within recess l9 to support between it and wall l6, an article 25, such as a towel, hat, garment, etc. The article 25 is inserted from the bottom of body l5 within the space 26 between it and wall l6, causing ball 20 to ride up against the inclined wall 22. As the article 25 is released the ball 20 will fall by gravity, wedging the article between it and wall l6, since the wall 22 is inclined. The corrugations in wall 22 will facilitate the gripping action, as the ball will tend to tighten thereagainst. The curved lower portion 22a. of wall 22 will facilitate the riding-up action of the ball as the article 25 is inserted within space 26.

In Figure 5, the ball 32 rides up wall 33 of recess 3|. Modified means for securing body 30 to abutment I6 is provided. A sleeve 31 having ribs 38 is embedded within body 30. Sleeve 31 is provided with machine-screw threads 39. A screw 34 has wood-screw threads 35 in its front portion and machine-screw threads 36 in its rear portion, the said rear portion being provided with a slot 40 to accommodate the end of a screw driver for driving the screw within abutment I6. The machine-screw threads 36 and 39 are complementary. As the screw 34 is driven, the woodscrew threads 35 will engage the abutment l6 and the threads 36 will engage the threads 39. 5

Body [5 or 30 may comprise any desired cari- It may assume the shape of a human head as seen in Figure 1; or that of an animals head or allegorical figure.

From the foregoing it is evident that as one mode of the invention, there has been provided a device comprising a molded body l5 having a front face provided with a configuration, a vertically disposed recess l9 having its opening at the rear face of said body, said recess having a substantially inclined wall 22 at the back of said front face and substantially slanting lateral walls l3, said lateral walls [3 and said inclined wall 22 converging at the lower portion of said body in an arcuate bottom wall 22a, the lower portion 23 of said body being in a lower plane than that of the upper portion I 4 thereof, and a spherical member adapted to operate within the said recess of said body for the purpose hereinabove described.

From the foregoing it can be readily seen that there has herein been provided an efllcient and aesthetic towel, wearing apparel or like holder in which the various objects hereinbefore mentioned has been attained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character described comprising a molded body having a front face provided with a configuration, a vertically disposed recess having its opening at the rear face of said body, said recess having a substantially inclined wall at the back of said front face and substantially slanting lateral walls, said lateral walls and said inclined wall converging at the lower portion of said body in an inwardly curved bottom wall, the lower portion of said body being in a lower plane than that of the upper portion thereof, and a spherical member adapted to operate within the said recess of said body between said inclined wall and a wall against which said device may be sup ported, said inclined wall being substantially roughened to prevent rolling upward movement of said spherical member when an article of substantial weight is supported in suspended position between said spherical member and said wall against which said device may be supported.

JOHN V. FUGAZZI. 

